One other rainbow jersey is to be displayed relatively than worn. For the fourth 12 months in succession, the lads’s under-23 time trial on the World Championships was received by a fully-fledged skilled rider, as Movistar’s Iván Romeo powered to victory on the shores of Lake Zurich. Perhaps it is little surprise that the UCI is on the cusp of adjusting the class’s eligibility guidelines.
Romeo was preceded as champion by Søren Wærenskjold, Johan Value-Pejtersen and Lorenzo Milesi, who had been already racing at skilled degree on the time of their under-23 world titles. The Spaniard was joined on the rostrum in Zurich by Continental rider Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden, and bronze medallist Jan Christen (Switzerland), one among three UAE Workforce Emirates riders within the subject along with Isaac del Toro (Mexico) and Antonio Morgado (Portugal).
The pre-race favorite, in the meantime, was Lotto-Dstny’s Alec Segaert (Belgium), who needed to accept fourth in Zurich after profitable the time trial on the Renewi Tour. Different top-level riders in motion on Monday included Darren Rafferty (Eire), who raced the Vuelta a España with EF Schooling-EasyPost, and Ineos riders Michael Leonard and AJ August.
After opening the under-23 class to Professional Continental riders in 2005 after which to WorldTour riders in 2017, the UCI is now on the cusp of strolling again these earlier amendments. The DirectVélo web site reported final week that WorldTour and Professional Continental riders will probably be barred from UCI Highway World Championship occasions within the age grouping beginning subsequent 12 months.
Romeo, inevitably, was requested concerning the rule change as he made his approach by the blended zone within the rainbow jersey. The Valladolid native has spent two seasons racing at Movistar. Though he has participated in races just like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, he instructed reporters that he’s nonetheless primarily serving his apprenticeship as a professional rider.
“It is after all controversial as a result of it is the under-23 class, however I am solely 21 myself,” Romeo mentioned. “Perhaps it is not honest for the Conti riders and likewise for the beginner riders who journey with us. But when we’re within the WorldTour, it is as a result of we’re the perfect and we’re additionally nonetheless below 23. I do not know. I am good with it. It’s what it’s.”
Romeo shrugged off the truth that he may by no means put on his newly earned rainbow bands in competitors, and maybe that time is moot. Most junior world champions transfer up a class earlier than they’ll put on their rainbow jerseys, in spite of everything, and even the beginner world champions of previous tended to maneuver immediately into the paid ranks after claiming their titles.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“That is not necessary for me now,” Romeo mentioned. “This jersey will probably be eternally in my room, I achieved it.”
Romeo, Spain’s first world champion on this occasion since Iván Gutiérrez in 1999, joked concerning the rarity of his nation’s success in opposition to the watch, a minimum of within the post-Induráin period. “In Spain, they all the time go for climbers, it is not straightforward for an enormous man,” he smiled.
Though Romeo races at WorldTour, he had made the under-23 time trial an overarching goal this season. He arrived in Zurich some ten days earlier than the occasion, renting an condo along with his father and performing repeated coaching rides alongside the parcours.
“We took an condo in Zurich so we may recon the course and see all of the corners time and again,” he mentioned. “And in the long run, after I see what occurred, it is unimaginable.”
Amateurs
Silver medallist Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden), who rides for the Lidl-Trek growth squad, would have been a world champion on Monday within the absence of WorldTour riders, however he took a nuanced view of the thorny query of the eligibility guidelines. He was the perfect of the Continental and beginner riders within the subject, however he additionally confessed to having fun with the possibility to measure himself in opposition to established WorldTour execs.
“There are lots of good opinions about it,” Söderqvist mentioned. “There’s the opinion that it needs to be the amateurs’ probability to shine and get a contract, so perhaps it needs to be about who’s the perfect Continental or beginner bike owner.
“However on the similar time, I feel it additionally validates the end result when the professional riders join they usually wish to race it. For an beginner, it is a good comparability of the way you match up with them. I haven’t got too robust an opinion about it myself. I am comfortable to see compete in opposition to them and see how we match up.”
Söderqvist definitely matched up strongly in opposition to a rider who has caught the attention at a better degree in his first full season at UAE Workforce Emirates. Bronze medallist Jan Christen’s 2024 season has included victories on the Giro dell’Appennino, Prueba Villafranca and a stage of the Giro d’Abruzzo, whereas he additionally positioned ninth on the Clásica San Sebastián, the place he helped Marc Hirschi to victory.
“I feel I may be very happy with my first professional season. There should not many riders profitable three professional races on the age of 20, so I am comfortable,” mentioned Christen. “I confirmed sufficient this season I am among the finest under-23 riders, so I haven’t got to show myself anymore.”
Christen will line up among the many favourites for the title in Friday’s under-23 street race, an occasion that now appears to be like set to mark the top of an period within the class. Romeo, in the meantime, gently rebuffed the concept that an under-23 world title held much less significance for a longtime WorldTour rider.
“I have been two years with Movistar, however I simply turned 21, so I am nonetheless fairly younger, I feel,” he mentioned. “It is loopy the extent now we have even right here within the under-23 World Championships. At the moment was one among my important objectives of the season. I used to be tremendous comfortable to be right here in good condition and win the TT.”
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the 2024 UCI Highway World Championships – together with breaking information and evaluation reported by our journalists on the bottom from the junior, under-23, and elite time trials and street races because it occurs and extra. Discover out extra.
